Great Vinels Copse

The woodland floor at Great Vinels Copse is carpeted with beech mast and the occasional patch of bluebells if you time it right in spring. This small forest near Stockbridge rewards a decent walk through proper Hampshire countryside - the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which is increasingly rare these days.

It's a walker's spot rather than a destination in itself. The trees are mature and dense, offering good shade even in summer, and there's enough track to cover without it feeling like a slog. Kids aged six and up will manage fine, though younger ones might lose interest after twenty minutes or so. The paths are uneven in places - proper forest floor stuff - so sensible boots make sense.

You're looking at a couple of hours maximum to see what there is to see, including a leisurely pace. There's no cafe, no facilities, no gift shop nonsense. Just woodland. Which is either exactly what you want or completely missable depending on your mood.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Stockbridge View or The Meadow Glamping are both strong choices - this makes for a solid half-day outing to stretch the legs. Salisbury Hillside, a few miles further on, also puts you in reasonable striking distance. The Copse doesn't compete with the big attractions, but it's the kind of place that reminds you why people book parks in Hampshire in the first place. Honest woodland, no pretence.